Groups and Teams

Groups and Teams: How Do They Differ?

• group: 2 or more freely interacting individuals who share norms, share goals, and have a common identity (management-directed)
• team: small group of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable (self-directed)

Formal vs Informal Groups

• formal group: group assigned by organizations or its managers to accomplish specific goals
• informal groups: group formed by people whose overriding purpose is getting together for friendship or a common interest

Various Types of Teams

• work teams: have a clear purpose that all members share
  • usually permanent and members must give their complete commitment to the team’s purpose in order for the team to succeed
  • ex: audit team
• project teams: assembled to solve a particular problem or complete a specific task, such as brainstorming new marketing ideas for one of the company’s products
• cross-functional teams: include members from different areas within an organization, such as finance, operations, and sales
• self-managed teams: groups of workers who are given administrative oversight for their task domains
• virtual teams: work together over time and distance via electronic media to combine efforts and achieve common goals

Stages of Group and Team Development

• forming: process of getting oriented and getting acquainted
  • “Why are we here?”
• in this stage, leaders should focus on giving people time to become acquainted and socialize

Stage 2: Storming

• storming: characterized by the emergence of individual personalities and roles and conflicts within the group
  • “What’s my role here?”

Stage 3: Norming

• norming: conflicts are resolved, close relationships develop, and unity and harmony emerge
  • “What do others expect me to do?”

Stage 4: Performing

• performing: members should concentrate on solving problems and completing the assigned tasks
  • “How can I best perform my role?”

Stage 5: Adjourning

• adjourning: members prepare for disbandment
  • “What’s next?”

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